Method and apparatus for processing on-line donations associated with media content

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method and apparatus for processing on-line donations associated with media content is disclosed. An example embodiment includes elements to integrate a payment button with an associated item of media content on a web page; link the payment button with an account on a payment site; receive a donation from a donor via the payment button; and credit the donation to the account linked to the payment button.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/169,829, filed on Jul. 9, 2008, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This application relates to a method and system to process data.Particularly, this application relates to the processing of on-linedonations associated with media content.

2. Related Art

Streaming media, such as videos, audio content, and other forms ofcontent, documents, or software (media content) have long been availableon-line via download to networked users. Typically, the consumers ofthis content either received the content for free or the consumers wereprompted to pay (and sometimes register with) a provider of the contentprior to the downloading and viewing/use of the content. Thisconventional streaming content download payment model was flawed,because consumers had to pay for an item of content before knowingwhether the content was worth the payment price. Providers wereunwilling to make the content available prior to payment, becauseconsumers might be inclined to view/use the content and then refusepayment after viewing/using the content. Some providers make availablefree trailers, previews, or limited use versions of some content. Butthese limited use versions do not always provide an accurate assessmentof the value of the complete content item. As such, a significantportion of the available networked content is not viewed or used bypotential consumers; because content providers are unwilling to do sowithout assurance of payment.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,794 describes a donation transaction apparatus andmethod for facilitating donations to charitable organizations. Theapparatus is configured to receive coins or, in some embodiments, cashor funds transfer authorization or credit charges, and preferablydispenses a donation receipt to the user which the user may use toprepare or document income tax returns. Preferably, the user is able toselect among a plurality of charitable organizations to receive thedonation.

Thus, a computer-implemented method and apparatus for processing on-linedonations associated with media content is needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments illustrated by way of example and not limitation in thefigures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a networked system in whichvarious embodiments may operate.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating multiple publication applicationsthat, in one example embodiment, can be provided as part of apublication system.

FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, for causing themachine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussedherein, may be executed, according to an example embodiment.

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate an example embodiment of a user interface forintegrating a payment (e.g. ‘donate’) button with media content.

FIG. 6 illustrates a processing flow diagram for an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of some example embodiments. It will be evident, however,to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various embodiments my bepracticed without these specific details.

According to various example embodiments described herein, there isdescribed a computer-implemented method and apparatus for processingon-line donations associated with media content. In an exampleembodiment, donation, payment, or giving functionality associated withmedia content can be implemented on a publication system (e.g., a mediacontent source or facilitator, content provider site, on-line goods orservices provider, a blog system, a community forum system, a bulletinboard system, a forms system, a network-based social network system,such as MYSPACE.COM, or a network-based marketplace, such as EBAY.COM orany other system via which a user may publish media content orinformation on a network (e.g., the Internet), with the support of apayments or financial system (e.g., a networked banking system orpayment system, e.g. PAYPAL.COM).

Various embodiments relate to integrating payment functionality withmedia content rendering or downloading functionality to prompt aconsumer or viewer (donor) for donations or payment related to mediacontent provided via a network. Particular embodiments do not requirepayment from the consumer/viewer prior to making the media contentavailable to the consumer/viewer. Various embodiments relate to allowinga user to set up functionality to solicit and obtain donations orpayment associated with media content integrated with a payment systembackend (e.g. PayPal) in support of a payment (e.g. ‘donate’) buttonprovided on the publisher or host site or with other functionality foreffecting the downloading, viewing, or consumption of the associatedmedia content. In an example embodiment, the payment functionality isactivated through a ‘donate’ button linked with a user's payment systemaccount (e.g. PayPal) and a media content provider's receivables account(e.g. PayPal). Examples of such a ‘donate’ button in particularembodiments are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 illustrates a publisher site page 400 that includes a ‘donate’button 410 with which a user can be prompted for donations related tomedia content provided via a network. Page 400 also includes variousconventional options embodied as a ‘player’ 415 for activatingfunctionality for viewing media content (e.g. a streamed video),including a ‘play’ button, volume, and the like. Such conventionalplayer 415 options, available in well-known technologies, enable aconsumer/viewer to download, view, use, or otherwise consume an item ofmedia content. As an additional option in a particular embodiment, the‘donate’ button 410 can be added to or integrated with a set of buttonsprovided by the player 415 as shown in FIG. 4. The ‘donate’ button 410enables the consumer/viewer to donate value (e.g. money, credit, points,and the like) associated with the media being served by the player 415.In a particular embodiment, the player 415 is not prevented from servingthe selected media, even if the consumer/viewer chooses to not use the‘donate’ button 410 to provide value associated with the media content.However, at any time before, during, or after viewing the associatedmedia content, the consumer/viewer can choose to use the ‘donate’ button410 to provide value associated with the media content. In anotherparticular embodiment, the player 415 is enabled to play only a trailer,a preview, or a timed portion of the selected media content prior to aconsumer/viewer using the ‘donate’ button 410 to provide valueassociated with the media content. this embodiment, the player 415 isnot enabled to play the entire selected media content if theconsumer/user does not use the ‘donate’ button 410 to provide some valueassociated with the media content. In yet another particular embodiment,the player 415 is enabled to play only a low quality, degraded, orshortened version of the selected media content prior to aconsumer/viewer using the ‘donate’ button 410 to provide valueassociated with the media content. In this embodiment, the player 415 isnot enabled to play the high quality, non-degraded, or full lengthversion of the selected media content if the consumer/user does not usethe ‘donate’ button 410 to provide some value associated with the mediacontent. The consumer/viewer can activate ‘donate’ button 410 byclicking on the button 410 using a conventional pointing device ormouse. Upon activation of the ‘donate’ button 410, a series ofoperations, described in more detail below, enable the consumer/viewerto provide value associated with the media content.

Referring to FIG. 5, another example player 420 is shown with example‘donate’ buttons 430 displayed on or in association with player 420functionality. As described earlier, player 420 is one well-knownmechanism for making media content available to a consumer/viewer. Inthe example shown in FIG. 5, ‘donate’ buttons 430 can be integrated orassociated with player 420 to prompt the consumer/user to provide valueassociated with the media content viewed or consumed using player 420.The consumer/viewer can activate ‘donate’ buttons 430 by clicking on oneof the buttons 430 using a conventional pointing device or mouse, Uponactivation of one of the ‘donate’ buttons 430, a series of operations,described in more detail below, enable the consumer/viewer to providevalue associated with the media content.

In an initial series of operations, a media content provider can set upa receivables account using a conventional on-line account provider(e.g. PayPal). The receivables account can be linked to one or moreitems of media content made available by the media content provider.Further, an identifier (e.g. account number) of the receivables accountof the media content provider can be linked to a ‘donate’ buttondisplayed on a host site in association with the one or more items ofmedia content made available by the media content provider.Alternatively, the identifier (e.g. account number) of the receivablesaccount of the media content provider can be linked to a ‘donate’ buttondisplayed on a host site in association with a player used to render ordownload the one or more items of media content made available by themedia content provider. In this manner, the identifier of thereceivables account of the media content provider can be linked with themedia content and the ‘donate’ button displayed in association with themedia content. Upon activation of the ‘donate’ button by aconsumer/viewer, the identifier of the receivables account of the mediacontent provider can be forwarded to a payment system (e.g. PayPal) toenable the appropriate media content provider account to be credited.Account identifiers, names, numbers, or other sensitive information canbe encrypted or obfuscated to protect the information from third partyaccess.

In a particular embodiment, the ‘donate’ button may link to a convenientpayment interface of the host site or payment system, using which aconsumer/viewer (e.g. user) can make a donation from a user account,also potentially maintained with the payment system, to a receivablesaccount of the media content provider linked with the media content asdescribed above. A “donation amount” feature within the paymentinterface may allow users to enter a donation amount, or select from alist of suggested amounts. Further, the payment interface may specifycertain accepted currencies, or allow a user to make a donation in anycurrency.

The payment system (e.g. PayPal) backend can provide validation for thetransfer of value from the consumer/viewer to the media contentprovider. For example, the payment system can validate the accounts ofpayor and payee and validate the transferred amount. In addition, thepayment system backend may track how much value is generated by eachitem of media content or by each provider of media content. Further, thepayment system backend may track how much value is donated or paid by aparticular consumer/viewer.

In an example embodiment (e.g., a Flash page), upon activation of the‘donate’ button, a user can be prompted to respond to a series ofquestions used to solicit, through a user's self disclosure, comments onthe item of media content and comments on what motivated the payor tomake a donation associated with the media content. These comments can beretained by the host site and optionally forwarded to the correspondingmedia content providers.

The ‘donate’ button or related display objects may also display an“honor roll”, in which users who have made and originated significantcontributions (e.g., in excess of a predetermined threshold) to theprovider of a particular item of media content may be a displayed in aranked order. In one example, the honor roll may attribute a “rollup”cumulative donation total of contributions made to the provider of aparticular item of media content. Within the honor roll, this “rollup”cumulative donation total may be displayed adjacent to the user's name,and the list of users presented in the honor roll may be ranked-based onthe “rollup” cumulative donation total.

Further, a particular embodiment may provide a mechanism whereby a usercan conveniently download a version of the media content with integrated‘donate’ button, and optionally a media content player, to his or herpublication page (e.g., MYSPACE page). Such a version of the mediacontent with integrated ‘donate’ button, which is instantiated from ahost site or media content provider site, can be regarded as being a“child” version of the particular parent version of the media contentavailable at the host site or media content provider site.

A parent version can be used to spread child versions over web pages onthe Internet when a user “grabs” and downloads a version of the mediacontent with integrated ‘donate’ button to a location of the user'schoosing. A version of the media content with integrated ‘donate’ buttonmay be grabbed by selecting an icon or display object associated withthe media content and causing the copying of the media content and anyassociated HTML code from a web page. In this manner, a version of themedia content with integrated ‘donate’ button may be dragged and droppedto a pre-determined area on a web page to create a child version.

A user who has posted a child version on a web page may not have thesame rights with respect to the media content as a user who posted theparent version. However, in a particular embodiment, the host of a childversion may be allowed to share a portion of the value donated as aresult of other users activating the integrated ‘donate’ button on achild version. Thus, if a media content provider hosts a parent versionand a first user hosts a child version, both the media content providerand the first user may receive a portion of the value donated by asecond user who activates the ‘donate’ button on the child version. In aparticular embodiment, the share percentages allocated to hosts of theparent and child versions can be in decreasing share values. In anotherembodiment, all proceeds from the donations made to a parent version andall proceeds from the donations made to all related child or subsequentgeneration versions can be allocated or paid to the owner of the parentversion. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art thatsimilar techniques as described herein can be used to create grandchildand great grandchild versions in a descending hierarchy. In each ofthese cases, the hosts of the child (or grandchild, or great grandchild,etc.) versions can share in a decreasing percentage of the revenuegenerated as a result of a user activating a ‘donate’ button on aparticular version of the media content with an integrated ‘donate’button. In an example embodiment, a version of the media content withintegrated ‘donate’ button can also be distributed via email to anotheruser who may be invited to post the emailed version in order to collectdonations made via the ‘donate’ button.

FIG. 6 illustrates a processing flow diagram for an example embodiment.In the embodiment 610 shown, a computer-implemented method and apparatusfor processing on-line donations associated with media content includes:integrating a payment button with an associated item of media content ona web page (processing block 615); linking the payment button with anaccount on a payment site (processing block 620); receiving a donationfrom a donor via the payment button (processing block 625); andcrediting the donation to the account linked to the payment button(processing block 630).

While the example embodiment describes separate and distinct mediacontent viewing and payment systems, as examples of publication andfinancial systems, it will be appreciated that the describedfunctionality may of course be implemented within the confines of asingle system.

Details of an example publication system and of an example paymentsystem are described below with reference to FIGS. 1-3. In an exampleembodiment, the functions described herein, may be supported by thedescribed systems.

FIG. 1 is a network diagram depicting a client-server system, designatedgenerally as 100, within which one example embodiment may be deployed.The system 100 may include any number of network systems, including anetworked publication system 102 (e.g., a network-based socialnetworking system or a network-based marketplace) and a networkedpayment system 103. Each of the systems 102 and 103 may providesserver-side functionality, via a network 104 (e.g., the Internet or WideArea Network (WAN)) to one or more clients. FIG. 1 illustrates, forexample, a web client 106 (e.g., a browser, such as the INTERNETEXPLORER browser developed by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.),and a programmatic client 108 executing on respective client machines110 and 112.

Dealing with the infrastructure of the networked publication system 102as an example, an Application Program Interface (API) server 114 and aweb server 116 are coupled to, and provide programmatic and webinterfaces respectively to, one or more application servers 118. Theapplication servers 118 host one or more publication applications 120(e.g., marketplace or social networking applications). The applicationservers 118 are, in turn, shown to be coupled to one or more databaseservers 124 that facilitate access to one or more databases 126.Similarly, application servers of the payment system 103 may hostpayment applications 122.

The publication applications 120 may provide a number of publicationfunctions and services to users that access the publication system 102.The payment applications 122 of the payment system 103 may likewiseprovide a number of payment services and functions to users. The paymentapplications 122 may for example allow users to accumulate value (e.g.,in a commercial currency, such as the U.S. dollar, or a proprietarycurrency, such as “points”) in accounts, and then later to redeem theaccumulated value for products (e.g., goods or services) that are madeavailable via the marketplace applications 120.

While the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 employs a client-serverarchitecture, embodiments are of course not limited to such anarchitecture, and could equally well find application in a distributed,or peer-to-peer, architecture system, for example. The variouspublication and payment applications 120 and 122 could also beimplemented as standalone software programs, which do not necessarilyhave networking capabilities.

The web client 106 accesses the various publication and paymentapplications 120 and 122 via the web interfaces supported by the webservers 116. Similarly, the programmatic client 108 accesses the variousservices and functions provided by the publication and paymentapplications 120 and 122 via the programmatic interface provided by therespective API servers 114. The programmatic client 108 may, forexample, be a publication application (e.g., the TurboLister applicationdeveloped by EBAY Inc., of San Jose, Calif.) to enable setters to authorand manage documents (e.g., listings) on the publication system 102 inan off-line manner, and to perform batch-mode communications between theprogrammatic client 108 and the publication system 102.

FIG. 1 also illustrates a third party application 128, executing on athird party server machine 130, as having programmatic access to thenetworked system 102 via the programmatic interface provided by the APIserver 114. For example, the third party application 128 may, utilizinginformation retrieved from the publication system 102 or from thepayment system 103, support one or more features or functions on awebsite hosted by the third party. The third party website may, forexample, provide one or more publication or payment functions that aresupported by the relevant applications 120 and 122.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating multiple publication applications120 that, in one example embodiment, can be provided as part of thepublication system 102. The publication applications 120 may be hostedon dedicated or shared server machines (not shown) that arecommunicatively coupled to enable communications between servermachines. The applications themselves are communicatively coupled (e.g.,via appropriate interfaces) to each other and to various data sources,so as to allow information to be passed between the applications or soas to allow the applications to share and access common data. Theapplications may furthermore access server one or more databases 126 viathe database servers 128.

The networked system 102 may provide a number of publishing, listing andprice-setting mechanisms whereby a user may publish information (e.g.,concerning him or herself and his or her interests, or goods or servicesfor sale). Further, a user can express interest in the publishedinformation. Where the publication system 102 supports a socialnetworking function, a user may express a social interest in thepublished information and the author thereof. Where the publicationsystem supports a network-based marketplace function, for example, abuyer can express interest in or indicate a desire to purchase suchgoods or services, and a price can be set for a transaction pertainingto the goods or services. A donor can also express interest in orindicate a desire to donate money, goods or services, and a price can beset for a transaction pertaining to the donated money, goods orservices.

The publication applications 120 may include at least one publicationapplication 200 and one or more auction applications 202 which supportauction-format listing and price setting mechanisms (e.g., English,Dutch, Vickrey, Chinese, Double, Reverse auctions etc.). The variousauction applications 202 may also provide a number of features insupport of such auction-format listings, such as a reserve price featurewhereby a seller may specify a reserve price in connection with alisting and a proxy-bidding feature whereby a bidder may invokeautomated proxy bidding.

A number of fixed-price applications 204 support fixed-price listingformats (e.g., the traditional classified advertisement-type listing ora catalogue listing) and buyout-type Specifically, buyout-type listings(e.g., including the Buy-It-Now (BIN) technology developed by EBAY Inc.,of San Jose, Calif.) may be offered in conjunction with auction-formatlistings, and allow a buyer to purchase goods or services, which arealso being offered for sale via an auction, for a fixed-price that istypically higher than the starting price of the auction.

Store applications 206 allow a seller to group listings within a“virtual” store, which may be branded and otherwise personalized by andfor the seller. Such a virtual store may also offer promotions,incentives and features that are specific and personalized to a relevantseller.

Reputation applications 208 allow users that transact, utilizing thenetworked system 102, to establish, build and maintain reputations,which may be made available and published to potential trading partners.Consider that where, for example, the networked system 102 supportsperson-to-person trading, users may otherwise have no history or otherreference information whereby the trustworthiness and credibility ofpotential trading partners may be assessed. The reputation applications208 allow a user, for example through feedback provided by othertransaction partners, to establish a reputation within the networkedsystem 102 over time. Other potential trading partners may thenreference such a reputation for the purposes of assessing credibilityand trustworthiness.

Personalization applications 210 allow users of the networked system 102to personalize various aspects of their interactions with the networkedsystem 102. For example a user may, utilizing an appropriatepersonalization application 210, create a personalized reference page atwhich information regarding transactions to which the user is (or hasbeen) a party may be viewed. Further, a personalization application 210may enable a user to personalize listings and other aspects of theirinteractions with the networked system 102 and other parties.

The networked system 102 may support a number of web sites that arecustomized, for example, for specific geographic regions. A version ofthe networked system 102 may be customized for the United Kingdom,whereas another version of the networked system 102 may be customizedfor the United States. Each of these versions may operate as anindependent marketplace, or may be customized (or internationalized)presentations of a common underlying marketplace. The networked system102 may accordingly include a number of internationalizationapplications 212 that customize information (and/or the presentation ofinformation) by the networked system 102 according to predeterminedcriteria (e.g., geographic, demographic or marketplace criteria). Forexample, the internationalization applications 212 may be used tosupport the customization of information for a number of regionalwebsites that are operated by the networked system 102 and that areaccessible via respective web servers 116.

Navigation of the networked system 102 may be facilitated by one or morenavigation applications 214. For example, a search application (as anexample of a navigation application) may enable key word searches oflistings published via the networked system 102. A browse applicationmay allow users to browse various category, catalogue, or inventory datastructures according to which listings may be classified within thenetworked system 102. Various other navigation applications may beprovided to supplement the search and browsing applications.

In order to make listings, available via the networked system 102, asvisually informing and attractive as possible, the marketplaceapplications 120 may include one or more imaging applications 216utilizing which users may upload images for inclusion within listings.An imaging application 216 also operates to incorporate images withinviewed listings. The imaging applications 216 may also support one ormore promotional features, such as image galleries that are presented topotential buyers. For example, sellers may pay an additional fee to havean image included within a gallery of images for promoted items.

Publication creation applications 218 allow users to conveniently alsocontend for publication via the publication system 102. For example, auser of a social networking site may conveniently be provided withtemplates, using which the user may author a personal profile and createlinks to contend that reflects the user's interests. In another example,sellers may be enabled conveniently to author listings pertaining togoods or services that they wish to transact via the networked system102, and publication management applications 220 allow sellers to managesuch publications. In one example, where a particular seller hasauthored and/or published a large number of listings, the management ofsuch listings may present a challenge. The publication managementapplications 220 provide a number of features (e.g., auto-relisting,inventory level monitors, etc.) to assist the seller in managing suchlistings. One or more post-publication management applications 222 alsoassist sellers with a number of activities that typically occurpost-listing. For example, upon completion of an auction facilitated byone or more auction applications 202, a seller may wish to leavefeedback regarding a particular buyer. To this end, a post-publicationmanagement application 222 may provide an interface to one or morereputation applications 208, so as to allow the seller conveniently toprovide feedback regarding multiple buyers to the reputationapplications 208.

Dispute resolution applications 224 provide mechanisms whereby disputesarising between users (e.g. transacting parties) may be resolved. Forexample, the dispute resolution applications 224 may provide guidedprocedures whereby the parties are guided through a number of steps inan attempt to settle a dispute. In the event that the dispute cannot besettled via the guided procedures, the dispute may be escalated to athird party mediator or arbitrator.

A number of fraud prevention applications 226 implement fraud detectionand prevention mechanisms to reduce the occurrence of fraud within (oroutside of) the publication system 102.

Messaging applications 228 are responsible for the generation anddelivery of messages to users of the networked system 102, such messagesfor example advising users regarding the status of listings at thenetworked system 102 (e.g., providing “outbid” notices to bidders duringan auction process or to provide promotional and merchandisinginformation to users). Respective messaging applications 228 may utilizeany one have a number of message delivery networks and platforms todeliver messages to users. For example, messaging applications 228 maydeliver electronic mail (e-mail), instant message (IM), Short MessageService (SMS), text, facsimile, or voice (e.g., Voice over IP (VoIP)))messages via the wired (e.g., the Internet), Plain Old Telephone Service(POTS), or wireless (e.g., mobile, cellular, WiFi, WiMAX) networks.

Merchandising applications 230 support various merchandising functionsthat are made available to sellers to enable sellers to increase salesvia the networked system 102. The merchandising applications 230 alsooperate the various merchandising features that may be invoked bysellers, and may monitor and track the success of merchandisingstrategies employed by sellers.

The applications may also include a donation application 232, whichinclude an account creation module, a nonprofit verification module, abadge tracking module, a donation amount tracking module, and a badgepersonalization module (not shown). These various modules may, in thevarious embodiments, be distributed between the publication system 102and that the payment system 103. In an example embodiment, these modulesare responsible for the performance of the various “donation badge”functions described herein.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of machine in the example form of a computersystem 300 within which a set of instructions, for causing the machineto perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may beexecuted. In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as astandalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to othermachines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in thecapacity of a server or a client machine in server-client networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine may be a personal computer (PC), atablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), acellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further,while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The example computer system 300 includes a processor 302 (e.g., acentral processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU) orboth), a main memory 304 and a static memory 306, which communicate witheach other via a bus 308. The computer system 300 may further include avideo display unit 310 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or acathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 300 also includes analphanumeric input device 312 (e.g., a keyboard), a user interface (UI)navigation device 314 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 316, a signalgeneration device 318 (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device320.

The disk drive unit 316 includes a machine-readable medium 322 on whichis stored one or more sets of instructions and data structures (e.g.,software 324) embodying or utilized by any one or more of themethodologies or functions described herein. The software 324 may alsoreside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 304and/or within the processor 302 during execution thereof by the computersystem 300, the main memory 304 and the processor 302 also constitutingmachine-readable media.

The software 324 may further be transmitted or received over a network326 via the network interface device 320 utilizing any one of a numberof well-known transfer protocols (e.g., HTTP).

While the machine-readable medium 322 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions, The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present invention, or that is capable of storing,encoding or carrying data structures utilized by or associated with sucha set of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shallaccordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-statememories, optical and magnetic media, and carrier wave signals. Theinvention can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or incomputer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Theinvention can be implemented as a computer program product, i.e., acomputer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in amachine-readable storage device or in a propagated signal, for executionby, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus, e.g., aprogrammable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. A computerprogram can be written in any form of programming language, includingcompiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form,including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component,subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. Acomputer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or onmultiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites andinterconnected by a communication network.

Method operations of the invention can be performed by one or moreprogrammable processors executing a computer program to performfunctions of the invention by operating on input data and generatingoutput. Method operations can also be performed by, and apparatus of theinvention can be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g.,an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specificintegrated circuit),

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, byway of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, andany one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, aprocessor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory ora random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer area processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devicesfor storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer wilt alsoinclude, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer datato, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g.,magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. Information carrierssuitable for embodying computer program instructions and data includeall forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of examplesemiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memorydevices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks;magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor andthe memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in special purposelogic circuitry.

To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments may be implementedon a computer having a display device such as a CRT (cathode ray tube)or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor for displaying information tothe user and a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse or atrackball by which the user can provide input to the computer. Otherkinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user aswell; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form ofsensory feedback, such as visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactilefeedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, includingacoustic, speech, or tactile input.

Embodiments may be implemented in a computing system that includes aback-end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes amiddleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes afront-end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical userinterface or an Web browser through which a user can interact with animplementation of the invention, or any combination of such back-end,middleware, or front-end components. The components of the system can beinterconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication,e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networksinclude a local area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), andthe Internet.

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

Certain applications or processes are described herein as including anumber of modules or mechanisms. A module or a mechanism may be a unitof distinct functionality that can provide information to, and receiveinformation from, other modules. Accordingly, the described modules maybe regarded as being communicatively coupled. Modules may also initiatecommunication with input or output devices, and can operate on aresource (e.g., a collection of information). The modules may includehardware circuitry, optical components, single or multi-processorcircuits, memory circuits, software program modules and objects,firmware, and combinations thereof, as appropriate for particularimplementations of various embodiments.

The methods described herein may be performed by processing logic thatmay comprise hardware (e.g., dedicated logic, programmable logic),firmware (e.g., microcode, etc.), software (e.g., algorithmic orrelational programs run on a general purpose computer system or adedicated machine), or a combination of the above. It will be notedthat, in an example embodiment, the processing logic may reside in anyof the modules described herein.

Although embodiments of the present invention has been described withreference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident thatvarious modifications and changes may be made to these embodimentswithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The accompanying drawingsthat form a part hereof, show by way of illustration, and not oflimitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter may bepracticed. The embodiments illustrated are described in sufficientdetail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachingsdisclosed herein. Other embodiments may be utilized and derivedtherefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. ThisDetailed Description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense,and the scope of various embodiments is defined only by the appendedclaims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claimsare entitled.

Thus, a computer-implemented method and apparatus for processing on-linedonations associated with media content is disclosed. Such embodimentsof the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individuallyand/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience andwithout intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application toany single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in factdisclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated anddescribed herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangementcalculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for thespecific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any andall adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations ofthe above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically describedherein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing theabove description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: integrating a payment buttonwith an associated item of media content on a web page; linking thepayment button with an account on a payment site; receiving a donationfrom a donor via the payment button; and crediting the donation to theaccount linked to the payment button.
 2. The method as claimed in claim1 including validating the account on the payment site.
 3. The method asclaimed in claim 1 wherein integrating the payment button includesproviding a plurality of options associated with the payment button. 4.The method as claimed in claim 1 including creating multipleinstantiations of the payment button in child versions of the item ofmedia content that are displayed on a plurality of web pages.
 5. Themethod as claimed in claim 1 including importing the payment button andthe associated item of media content into a plurality of web pages. 6.The method as claimed in claim 1 including enabling a user to entercomments upon activation of the payment button.
 7. The method as claimedin claim 1 including tracking the revenue collected via a particularpayment button.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 1 includingdistributing the payment button and the associated item of media contentvia email.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 1 including activating thepayment button via a pointing device.
 10. An article of manufacturecomprising a machine-readable storage medium having machine executableinstructions embedded thereon, which when executed by a machine, causethe machine to: integrate a payment button with an associated item ofmedia content on a web page; link the payment button with an account ona payment site; receive a donation from a donor via the payment button;and credit the donation to the account linked to the payment button. 11.The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 10 being operable tovalidate the account on the payment site.
 12. The article of manufactureas claimed in claim 10 being operable to provide a plurality of optionsassociated with the payment button.
 13. The article of manufacture asclaimed claim 10 being operable to create multiple instantiations of thepayment button in child versions of the item of media content that aredisplayed on a plurality of web pages.
 14. The article of manufacture asclaimed in claim 10 being operable to import the payment button and theassociated item of media content into a plurality of web pages.
 15. Thearticle of manufacture as claimed in claim 10 being operable to enable auser to enter comments upon activation of the payment button.
 16. Thearticle of manufacture as claimed in claim 10 being operable to trackthe revenue collected via a particular payment button.
 17. The articleof manufacture as claimed in claim 10 being operable to distribute thepayment button and the associated item of media content via email. 18.The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 10 being operable toactivate the payment button via a pointing, device.
 19. A systemcomprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor to storeinformation related to user donations; and a donation module tointegrate a payment button with an associated item of media content on aweb page, link the payment button with an account on a payment site,receive a donation from a donor via the payment button, and credit thedonation to the account linked to the payment button.
 20. The system asclaimed in claim 19 being operable to validate the account on thepayment site.